Mail-box.



No. 825,503. PATENTED JULY l0', 1906. W. H. ZYLSTRA.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AIB. 14. 1905.

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YUNTF STATFSPATENT DFFIC IVILLIAM H. ZYLSTRA, OF GRAND RAPIDS, lVIICHlGAN. MAIL-BOX.

No. 825,503. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July lO, 1906. Application filed April 14, 1905. Serial No. 255,603.

T /LZZ whom t iii/by 001000770: edge of the end, and carries also a lug or pin Be it known that I, vWILLIAM H. ZYLSTRA, K, preferably located near the point of piva citizen of the United States, residing at otal attachment to the back. I connect the Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and hinged cover to this armDF by means of the 6o State of Michigan, have invented new and arm H, which is pivoted to the cover at air,Vm useful Improvements in Mail- Boxes, of convenient point, as I, and which, upon the which the following is a specification. lower end, carries the sleeve J, traveling upon My invention relates to new and useful iinthe arm D F. I also provide a signal M, opprovements in mail-boxes, and more espeerated by a pin or lug N, situated on the Io cially for inail-boxes used in the rural freecover but this is a usual form of signal and delivery system, although not inappropriate no part of my invention. in other places. Its object is to give the col- Attached to the interior of the drop front lecting-carriers quite free and efficient access and at any convenient location, preferably to the contents. This object is accomabout centrally, I provide a clip C), suitable 7o I 5 plished by the mechanism shown in the acfor holding the mail in position and especompanying drawings, in whichcially adapted to receive one or more en- Figure l is an en( elevation of a box emvelops and hold them by their edges, so that bodying the features of the invention and they will stand at an angle to the front cover showing the parts thereof in dotted lines. and will be held with a sufficient spring or 2o Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken just inside the other pressure, so that they will not drop out end of the box adjacent to the operating ofthe clip of their own weight. This clip I means for the drop front and cover. Figs. 3 have shown in Figs. l and 21. The connectand 4 are details of the opening mechanism. ing means between the back, cover, and front he box consists, essentially, of the casing may be duplicated at each end. p 8O 25 A, consisting of the usual back, bottom, and In operation, assuming that the box is ends i'irmly attached together in any CuS- closed and that the connecting means occupy tomary way. This box carries a cover B, the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. hinged to the back at B, as is customary, l, I :first take hold of the cover and raise this and I prefer to'construct the device so that up by its hinge. As the cover is raised the 85 3o this cover when closed will have a forward arm H rises and the sleeve J also rises, sliding slope, as shown. The cover B also for eifiupward upon the arm D F without any effect ciency and for excluding snow and water has upon any other part. It is apparent, thereupon the front and upon each end a dependfore, that the cover can be raised a considering iiange, as shown, which shuts down over able distance, more or less, according as the 9o 35 the top edges of the ends and front and parts are adjusted and without edecting the makes a betterjoint. The front pieceCalso front or causing it to open. Indeed, the of itself in the usual forni is hinged at C to weight of the arm D F, suspended inwardly the front edge of the bottom, so that this from near the top of the drop front, operates front when closed has a vertical position and t positively to keep the same closed during 4o when opened falls down, turning en this the iirst part of the rising motion of the cover.

hinge so as to have approximately a horizonl/Vhen the sleeve J in its upward travel strikes tal position. the pin K, it immediately sets in motion the I connect the hinged cover to the back by arm D F and causes the drop front to begin the pivoted double arm D F. This is pivto open. As soon as this front is opened a roo 4 5 oted to the back near the upper edge thereof very short distance so that the center of gravat E, as shown, and is pivoted to the front ity is sufficiently changed, it will freely and near the top thereof at G, as shown. The without further actuating drop to its fullytwo parts of the double arm are pivoted toopen position or to whatever point of opening gether at G. This pivoted armDFis so att e construction may determine to be the 5o tached to the back and front that it lies limit of its forward motion. This forward along the inner surface of the end and does motion will be certainly and positively not take up appreciable space within the box checked when the arm D F becomes comor interfere with its contents. This pivoted pletely extended, as shown in F ig. 2, and the i stop Il, carried by the arm D F, may at any 11o 55 will at the proper time make contact with the predetermined point come in contact with inwardly-extending iiange L on the front l the flange upon the inner side of the front edge ofthe end, as shown, or with any suitable l, ing tripping devices, whereby the drop front stop provided in connection with the end, and will remain unaffected by the first part of the thereby the forward motion of the front may l opening motion of the cover and through the be stopped Where desired` The boX is now l operation of the tripping devices drop vvith- 45 5 fully operi, and the letters therein contained out further actuation to its completely-open are standing on edge upon the horizontal position. drop front, which serves as a bottom eXten- 2. ln a mail-box, in combination With the sion, and are in the most convenient position main body thereof, a hinged cover and a to be grasped bythe carrier, and at the same hinged drop front, and means for actuating 5o 1o time the box is fully open, both as to its top the drop front by the motion of the cover and as to its front, adapted to receive any arand including devices for returning the drop ticles,Whatever their shape,-Which the carrier l front to its normally closed position before Wishes to place therein. Lowering the cover the cover is completely closed. then reverses the operation. These arms are 3. ln a mail-box, a body having a cover 55 I 5 so pivoted and adjusted that the sliding and a hinged drop front, and means actuated sleeve J brings the arm D to its substantially by the motion of the hinged cover to open and vertical position adjacent tothe back appreclose the drop front and including devices ciably in advance of the time When the cover which do not operate to affect the means cois fully closed, and therefore of necessity the operating With the drop front until the cover- 6o 2o drop front is fully closed before the cover is has been raised nearly to its completelyready to close down thereover. open position.

lt is especially desirable that with a mail- 4. ln a mail-box a body having a hinged box of this class it should be possible to open cover and a drop front, the cover having a the cover far enough to get easy access to the depending Harige closing down over the top 65 25 interior and Without disturbing the front or of the drop front, mechanism for actuating causing it "to open. This is especially necesthe drop front by the motion of the hinged sary during a ram or other storm. lt 1s also cover, such mechanism including means for a desirable feature of my device that the preventing the actuation of the drop front front is a drop front and that as soon as it is until the depending flange of the cover has 70 3o tripped it Will 'fall fully open Without any been raised therefrom, and for returning the further actuation. It is also desirable that drop front to its completely-closed position the mail should be presented to the carrier before said depending cover flange closes upon the front, and therefore nearer to him, down over the drop front. rather than in the interior of the box. In testimony whereof l have hereunto set 7 5 35 Having thus described my invention, what my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Wit- I clim to have invented, and desire to secure nesses. b etters Patent, is#

yl. ln a mail-box, in combination With the VHJLAM -H' ZYLSTRA main body thereof, a hinged top and a hinged l itnesses: 4o drop front, and means for actuating the drop A A. C. DENISON,

front by the motion of the cover and includ- MARY S. TooKER. 

